- For 2024, the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan and S-Class will be the first US models to have Level 3 autonomous driving.
- A Level 3 system (called Pilot Drive) allows the car to handle most driving tasks but requires the driver to be able to take over at any time.
- Mercedes has already launched Drive Pilot in Germany, and now it has been approved for use in America, starting with Nevada.
With Mercedes-Benz announcing today that it is the first automaker approved to use Level 3 autonomous systems in America, some of us will finally have access to hands-free driving, under certain circumstances, of course.
Pilot Drive is what Mercedes calls its Level 3 system, and the technology is set to make its US debut as an option on the 2024 EQS and S-class sedans. Pilot Drive lets drivers hand over key tasks to the car, meaning they don’t have to touch the steering wheel or keep their eyes on the road at all. compatible roads. This contrasts with Level 2 systems like GM’s Super Cruise, which have a monitoring system to keep the driver looking at the road. However, even in the Mercedes system, the driver must be ready to take back control of the car at any time if it is unable to drive itself.
Guided Driving Pilot is a combination of GPS, lidar, various sensors and more. It only works at speeds up to 40 mph. If any system fails, Mercedes says there are fail-safe brakes and steering to safely maintain control of the car until the driver regains control. If the driver is unable to do so within the allotted time, the system is said to bring the car to a complete stop, activate the hazard lights, and call emergency services.
Mercedes is launching Pilot in Germany in May 2022. Currently, Nevada is the only US state where Pilot has received regulatory approval. However, Mercedes says it is working on getting approval in California with the hope that it will be certified later in 2023.
The 2024 EQS sedan and S-class models are expected to start being delivered to customers in the second half of this year.
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